Radiological Health Specialist

Environmental Health Careers with State and County Health Departments

Employing science and engineering graduates from a variety of disciplines, environmental health programs offer meaningful and satisfying careers helping protect people and communities from public health risks. They provide an attractive variety of work assignments and settings, and ample opportunity for professional development and advancement. State positions and most county jobs offer excellent fringe benefits including subsidized health insurance coverage, reasonable and flexible work hours, generous amounts of leave time, and unrivaled pension plans. In combination, these factors allow science and technology graduates to experience gratifying careers while enjoying an enviable quality of life.

Recent surveys indicate there is a substantial shortfall of candidates for these jobs.

Job Description

Radiological Health Specialists (RHS) in the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) apply professional and technical expertise to protect the public's health by controlling and monitoring radiological emissions. Radiological Health Specialists inspect facilities that use X-ray and other radiation-producing equipment; inspect and monitor facilities using radioactive material; provide training to local health personnel and certified radiation equipment safety officers; investigate radiological accidents and emergencies; conduct studies of newly developed radiation-producing equipment, and address questions and research information on non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation.

Related Titles

The NYSDOH Radiological Health Specialist series includes Senior, Associate and Principal Radiological Health Specialist positions. There is also a Radiological Health Specialist Traineeship for bachelor's degree candidates.

Qualifications

Candidates for the Radiological Health Specialist Traineeship must possess a bachelor's degree in physical science, natural science or engineering. In addition to the bachelor's degree, two years of full-time experience in radiation protection or control including experience in handling radioactive isotopes or radiation producing equipment is required for appointment to Senior Radiological Health Specialist (SRHS), three years of full-time experience is required for appointment to Associate Radiological Health Specialist (ARHS), and four years of full-time experience is required for appointment to Principal Radiological Health Specialist (PRHS). Graduate training in physical science, natural science or engineering may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for up to three years of the required experience. Candidates at all levels must successfully complete a Civil Service exam.

Location

Radiological Health Specialist positions are located in the Center for Environmental Health in Troy, and at some NYSDOH Regional and District field offices.

Salary

Effective April 2009, Radiological Health Specialist salaries for NYSDOH (state) titles ranged from a starting salary of approximately $37,400 for RHS Trainee 1 (grade 13) to approximately $96,000 at the top of the pay scale for Principal RHS (grade 27). Salary increases occur from union-negotiated periodic salary increases, and performance salary advances based on progressive years of satisfactory experience.

Contact & Application Information

Written exams are administered by the NYS Department of Civil Service and announcements of job opportunities are issued periodically. Announcements for exams and vacancies can be found on the NYSDOH employment website (check out the Public Health Works ! link on this site for more detailed information about environmental health activities). Announcements for exams can also be found on the Civil Service website. Questions about employment opportunities with the NYSDOH may be e-mailed to resume@health.state.ny.us, or your may contact the agency's Bureau of Personnel Management at 518-486-1812.